What is a Special Rescue?
Oregon Humane intakes animals in a variety of ways, including Second Chance transfers from partner shelters, owner surrender, Humane Law Enforcement investigations, and special animal rescues.
Animal rescues can be in response to a high need event, such as wildfire or natural disaster—in July five dogs arrived from the Umatilla Reservation due to a wildfire. However, special rescues can also be intakes of animals from right here in our own community.
These scenarios may involve law enforcement agencies that encounter abused or neglected animals while investigating other cases, animal welfare agencies that received a call for help but are at capacity, or overwhelmed owners reaching out when unspayed/unneutered pet population expand beyond their scope of care.
2026 Rescue Tracker
February
23 animals rescued from neglect in Lake County
March
28 Animals rescued from unsanitary conditions in Lake County
April
29 terriers rescued from an overwhelmed owner in Gresham
July
83 cats and 3 dogs rescued from neglect in Central Point Oregon
Why Are Animal Rescues Important?
In the case of special rescues, Oregon Humane is often the last option for families in need—particularly those who have exhausted all other means of caring for their animals. Being able to say yes to these rescues is critical to combatting pet overpopulation, keeping difficult situations from ballooning into more dangerous conditions, and protecting vulnerable animals.
Offering a helping hand as often as possible is what keeps our community thriving.
Caring for Rescue Animals
When a call for help comes, it is often urgent and without much notice. In order to make special rescues work, our team first needs to ensure we have space at our shelter—which can sometimes mean strategically reallocating all the space we have by housing animals in different parts of the shelter, utilizing support from our incredible group of foster volunteers, and balancing populations between our Portland and Salem campuses.
In 2022, as part of our New Road Ahead expansion, we built our Behavior & Rescue Center which can house up to 24 animals in need. Designed with these types of rescues in mind, the Behavior & Rescue Center includes modular-style kennels that allow staff to reimagine the space as needed.
Animals arriving from special rescues often have a variety of care needs that can range from grooming of matted/dirty coats, behavior training, spay/neuter surgery, to extensive medical support.
Thanks to donor support, Oregon Humane has the capacity and resources needed to offer animals all that they need to recover, get healthy, and find new, loving homes.
Fozzy’s Story
Recently, a local family was reeling from a heartbreaking and life-altering event—they also had nearly 30 dogs on their property that left them feeling overwhelmed. While they cared for their pets, there were simply more animals than they could safely manage.
Thanks to donor support, Oregon Humane was able to respond, quickly and compassionately coordinating with the family, to transfer the animals into our care when no one else could.
At the property, the dogs were scattered across a densely cluttered yard, dashing into tightly packed and dangerous spaces like the wheel well of an old ATV. One of the dogs, Fozzy, was especially hard to catch, dodging all our attempts to get him safely into a crate.
After several tedious hours, our team, alongside the family, gathered 29 dogs—including three neonatal puppies, and clever Fozzy.
Soon after his arrival at our shelter, we noticed that Fozzy was very shut down. However, after increasing interactions with his fellow dogs, Fozzy began to relax. It was clear that giving Fozzy opportunities to socialize with other dogs was the key to helping him find his confidence, and in turn, his ability to trust the people around him.
Over time, Fozzy began to make many more friends—both canine and human. Today, in his new home, he has a new doggie best friend and a family who loves to indulge in his fondness for squeaky toys.
All the rescued dogs received the care and attention they desperately needed, including medical treatment, healthy diets, routine exercise, and more, while they awaited their new homes.
Will you be a friend to the animals and make a life-changing gift today?
As the demand for help grows and shelters grapple with capacity, fewer options for care are available to those struggling in our community and more pets like Fozzy are in danger of not getting the care they need.
